As part of my training for a degree in Interior Design, I had to fulfill four internships. An internship meant that I worked for either an individual designer or a design related business. One of my favorite internships was working for the design service offered at Bloomingdale’s in New Jersey.
They had on staff several well respected designers who took on clients usually through the purchase of furniture and/or accessories. The store also had created four large model rooms where every few months the designers would work their magic using Bloomingdale’s collection of furniture and accessories.
No detail was overlooked. Trades people were called in to do the carpentry, painting, wallpapering, and sewing. Many times there were special orders for custom pieces and antiques- solely to suit the room’s decor. While the rooms were under construction, curtains hid everything from view. Then like theater, when everything was in place, they were pulled back to reveal some pretty amazing spaces.
And like a dope, I never bothered to photograph any of them. So…when I came across this book ‘Bloomingdale’s Book of Home Decorating‘ I was elated. No, there aren’t any pictures of the rooms I had been a part of- it predates that. But it does have plenty of inspiring ones done by the author/designer Barbara D’arcy for the NYC store.
I’ve been a longstanding admirer of designer Steve Gambrel. This unassuming 1930’s house is by far my favorite project of his. The clients were not interested in impressing their neighbors by a grand makeover, but wanted to keep their seaside home as it was…only better. Did Gambrel succeed? When does he not?!
Foyer- High gloss enamel paint was used on the paneled walls of the house’s foyer. The floors were ebonized and finished with varnish. As always Gambrel mixes furniture with ease. My favorites are these mid-century rope chairs on either side of the old table.
Living room- This space retained its original pine paneling and Gambral played off its linear design with a custom striped rug from Woodard Weave Collection. (Here’s another view of the living room.)
Living room detail- The house already had ample bookshelves so Gambrel had them painted and then arranged a series of photos of ships along with the family’s sailing snapshots.
Dining room- Unpainted paneling is the background for a large vintage table and chairs. Instead of expensive fabric on the chairs, they have been covered in upholsterer’s white muslin.
Kitchen- Pre-existing cabinets were simply painted white and pale green. Accessories from Target fill the open shelves.
Second floor hall- Prized 1930’s paintings collected for years now hang in the upstairs hall way.
Master Bedroom (above and below)- The master bedroom is actually two rooms with identical back-to-back corner fireplaces. Another great furniture choice was this Gio Ponti black lacquered/rush chair and ottoman.
(Photos by A. Bootz for American Homestyle & Gardening)
The Russian Victorian folk houses have several similarities to their western counterparts. They both were built from around 1870 to 1910. They both were one or two stories high and both were identified by their intricate decorative detail. But what I find so remarkable is that some have remained in the same Russian family for generations and consequently, the interiors are layered with history and memories.
Here large water-color paintings are merely thumb-tacked into the wall above a sofa-bed. I love the assortment of pillows- no two alike!
Flowers plucked from outside enhance an already bright yet simple dining room.
The kitchen brick walls and cupboards all get a coat of cool blue paint.
Notice the casual mix of patterns and colors for this bedroom.
It’s not surprising that people who love thrifting also love taking those reclaimed clothes apart and customizing them. Here are some ideas from Rowan for creating unique clothes by knitting, felting, or weaving with yarn.
This full length denim skirt was cut short and embellished with a knitted fringe hem, a knitted belt, and an embroidered flower. (Design by Rachel Henderson)
Here a plain skirt gets much more interesting when a panel is replaced with a hand knitted section. (Design by Lisa Richardson)
A close fitting T-shirt is altered by removing a portion of its back and edged with rickrack. Yarn is then crisscrossed into a cool pattern. (Design by Lisa Richardson)
Can you believe this bag used to be a sweater?! It was rescued from a charity shop, the sleeves removed, felted in the washing machine, shaped into a bag, and then the knitted flower and handles added. (Design by Rachel Henderson)
Another old sweater was felted and reworked to create this beautiful halter top. (Design by Rachel Henderson)
foyer- an entranceway or transitional space from the exterior to the interior of a building or home.
Foyers reveal more than you think. They are wonderful preludes not only to your home but to you personally. Don’t leave it as an afterthought! Instead try and create a visually exciting space that plays off the architecture and offers hints to your interests. Here are just a few of my favorites to inspire you!
The front door leads right into this gracious foyer of an older home. What keeps it interesting, though, are all the homeower’s touches- plants, needlepoint rug, antiques, and a surprise- the salvaged cornice placed over the door!
Bright yellow walls greet guests to this home in Europe. Notice the fun patterned door, paintings, fabric covered lampshade and the couple’s collection of umbrellas!
I love the soft blue used on the wainscot and rug in this Swedish summer cottage. The curves of the Thonet bench break of the linear lines of the paneling and act as a ground for the monochromatic color scheme.
Artist John Derian’s apartment in New York City has a very small but memorable foyer! He covered the walls and the front door with pages torn from old books!
Built in 1835, this house boasted a stunning entry foyer! The owner’s passion for Swedish design dictated the light colors and the well chosen antiques- the Charles Eastlake hat rack, an inherited 1930’s Renaissance style table and the large pendant light fixture.
Fun and quirky are the words that come to mind when entering this foyer of a young family in California. Check out the chair!
Wow! Talk about a flamboyant mix of styles! The neoclassical staircase becomes almost playful when combined with vintage red Jean Royere armchairs and a seashell covered mirror!
(Photos- House and Garden, World of Interiors, Elle Decor)
Like most young married couples in the 1950’s, artist Bob Wood and his wife Joani were overjoyed at the prospect of renting an apartment that they could afford and being able to fix it up the way they liked. They decided to redo the kitchen by replacing the appliances and then doing most of the remodeling themselves. You can see that many of their ideas are still applicable for today.
Before- When the couple moved in, the kitchen had nothing in it but a stove. No refrigerator! And a thin strip of linoleum only partially covered the wood floor.
After-Here Bob and Joani are celebrating their new DIY kitchen in 1954. The freshly painted walls are red in the eating area and a soft gray in the kitchen. Black painted rope secured to the ceiling divides the kitchen from the dining area. Bob installed a faux black-marble linoleum to cover the entire room’s floor.
After- He also extended cabinets all the way to the ceiling and fitted them with black sliding doors. The counter top was covered in solid black linoleum (not Formica). And check out the light fixture- one of three bubble lights by George Nelson!
After- Bob designed the curtain and chair cushion fabric. Taking heavy unbleached muslin, he took a whisk broom and brushed on the background colors then overprinted a second design by silk screen.
Nothing says autumn like cozy hand-knit clothing and I’ve discovered that the best patterns are always found in Rowan Knitting & Crochet Magazines! Fresh from the highlands of Scotland, Rowan featured these inspirational pictures of vests, sweaters, hats and scarves last year. Take a look-
Fyne Slipover Sweater Vest by Marie Wallin.
Tartan Scarf (lower right) by Anna Tillman.
Cawdor hat by Sarah Hatton and Rannoch Dress by Marie Wallin.
Details of Doon Cardigan (upper left) by Anna Tillman and Malt Cardigan (lower right) by Lisa Richardson.
Most people look at the color pink and see only a little girl’s bedroom. But pink is a great color that can be used in any room- living rooms, kitchens, bathrooms and master bedrooms!
First, to get us thinkingpink let’s listen to this song from one of my favorite movies- “Funny Face.”
Now some inspiring pink rooms- enjoy!
1. Living room- A soft blush ofpink covers the walls of Marian McEvoy’s living room. She kept it from being too sweet by introducing brown. Here it’s used in the rug and pillows. And check out Marian’s artwork glued to the walls- all from pine cones!
2. Living room- Would you believe this is almost the same color scheme ofpink and brown? The only difference is in the color intensity. Accents of brown are in the solid-colored pillow, the dark wooden furniture and the picture frames.
3. Living room- Brightpink was used in this Parisian apartment and wow! Doesn’t it give a more youthful feel? Fun accessories include the chandelier ( see reflected in the mirror), the graphic rug, modern paintings and stacks of books everywhere!
4. Living room- Isn’t this charming? Pink walls combine wonderfully with the rustic features (wooden beams and stone fireplace) of this farmhouse in France. And I love the over-scaled pink checked fabric on the furniture!
5.Living room- To do pink doesn’t necessarily mean just painting your walls. You could purchase or cover existing furniture in pink fabrics instead. A wonderful example by Shelia Bridges- a solid (Holly Hunt “Pink Lady) on the sofa and a large floral on the chairs.
6. Kitchen- Pinkin the kitchen can also be totally unexpected and fun!
7. Kitchen- Small kitchens like this one in Europe, benefit from strong color. Why not choose a deep pink?!
8. Kitchen- Just because a kitchen is modern doesn’t mean it can’t have a touch of pink! Here back-lit pink acetate and Lucite create a focal point in this kitchen.
9. Bathroom- Don’t be afraid to try pink in the bathroom. Here is a good balance of feminine (the mirror) with masculine (marble countertop and contemporary sink.)
10. Bathroom- Simple pink elements like the flowers and bucket are nice touches in a bathroom.
11. Master bedroom- Classic pink floral wall paper called “Bowood” from Colefax and Flower makes this room so romantic! And really, what’s wrong with that?
12. Master bedroom- Do you love modern? Pink can still be used as a background color (Benjamin Moore Regal Matte in Charming Pink) with bright white ceiling and trim. To keep the clean look, use white linens and edit your accessories to just a few- like the metal lamps and framed photos (bedside table.)
13. Master bedroom- Talk about a great mix! This room has rich pink walls (BL 32 Pink Tiger) paired with a mirrored bed, pink edged linens, a floral rug; all kept in check by the black club chair.
(Pictures- 1. World of Interiors 2. Elle Decor 3. House and Garden 4. House Beautiful 5. Domino 6. World of Interiors 7. Domino 8. Domino 9. Domino 10. World of Interiors 11. House Beautiful 12. Domino 13. Domino)
I love homes that reflect the personality of the person or people who live there. One such place is the home of Silvia Alvarez, a designer living in Buenos Aires. I was delighted by how she preserved the home’s historical details yet made the place hers by using a creative mix of furniture and quirky collections. Take a peek-
The foyer of the apartment retains its tile floor andwood trim. Silvia added the English floral paper to the walls and the ceiling. Her collection of black and white photographs takes up one full wall. Look closely at some of the pictures- how many favorite movie stars can you recognize?!
Another view of the foyer shows a huge paper lamp shape covered in flowers. It was bought at flee market and restored by Sylvia’s daughter.
The living room and dining room are perfect examples of Sylvia’s mixing of different styles and periods of furniture- Victorian sofa and covered chair , a 1960’s coffee table, vintage floral rug, thick wooden topped dining table with black chairs from the 1970’s. And check out the surprising ceiling light fixtures!
The kitchen is painted all white with punches of color in the window curtains and seat cushions (not shown here). Open shelves display collections of pottery.
Silvia painted her bedroom a soft blue and threw a simple white cover on the bed. Romantic chintz covers pillows and an antique bench. To keep it from getting too ‘frothy’ she includes modern touches with light fixtures and beside table by Eileen Gray.
(From- Romantic Homes magazine. Photos by- Daniela Mac Adden)
Nibs is my blogette- just a really small blog where I post my interests... gardening, fashion, art, interior design and weddings. Feel free to peruse the archives. Try to remember that if you use any photos and/or written material to please link back. Otherwise, happy reading! Warm regards- Martha B.
